ROCKFORD — An Illinois Secretary of State Police enforcement blitz aims to help holiday shoppers resist the temptation to beat the crowds by borrowing Uncle Bob’s handicapped parking permit.

As mall parking lots fill to the brim with holiday bargain shoppers this weekend and through December, police are patrolling mall parking lots in cities across Illinois to keep an eye on who is using handicap parking spaces.

SOS Investigator Seth Beard was in the CherryVale parking lot near the Barnes & Noble Friday morning as the enforcement program began.

“We aren’t out here to write tickets, but because of our presence we are assuring the public there will be a spot available for those that need it,” Beard said.

SOS police wrote 160 citations during Thanksgiving weekend a year ago. Fines can be steep.

Simply parking in an accessible parking space without a handicap parking permit or license plate can mean a fine as much as $350. Altering, forging or possessing a stolen placard is a Class A misdemeanor on first offense with a fine of up to $2,500 and a year in jail.

Parking in handicap spaces by misusing or borrowing a permit or plate can result in a suspended license for up to six months and a $500 fine. Repeat violators face a one-year suspension and $1,000 fine for subsequent violations.

“That’s where most of the abuse is at, using the placard of their grandmother or their uncle or somebody that’s not even there,” Beard said.

Law enforcement officers from across the state are also being encouraged to enforce the handicap parking laws during the holiday shopping season, said Elizabeth Kaufman, spokeswoman for SOS Jesse White.

Applications for an accessible parking permit can be found at cyberdriveIllinois.com under “persons with disabilities” inside the services section. The application process requires a physician to fill out a portion of the documents to certify a disability.